New Britain Herald Newspaper, September 17, 1915, Page 13

¥ PAT'NORAN HAPPIEST MAN IN BASEBALL *Photd by American Press Assoclation. 'PAT MORAN is the happiest manager in baseball today. When Patrick took hold of the Philadelphia Nationals _* _at the start of the 1915 season the experts figured his chances of lending a pennant winner were very slim, l}b\lt he has fooled them all. The Phillies have played wonderful ball and at present it appears as if they will cap- ture the flag. Moran has shown that he possesses wonderful managerial ability and knows the game from A to Z. |Aim of Ball Player Better Than That («YAJOW! Did you see that throw?” Such an expression has been on the lips of almost every baseball fan dozens of times, as he has witnessed an outflelder, after making a beautiful running catch, whip the ball from deep in the outfleld to home plate without hesitating to consider the distance, “Just like a shot from a rifle,” these tans have added as the throws have spanked into the catcher's mitt in time to catch a runner attempting to score from third, and they marveled at the accuracy. The fans would marvel gtil] more if they knew that under the con- ditions the marksmanship of the out- flelder was more accurate than would have been that of the average rifieman. It some of the followers of the latter activity doubt this just try running backward or sideways for fifteen or twenty yards and then without hesitat. ing attempt to make & bullseye 225 or 250 feet away. Then, after you have failed by several feet or yards, fess up. The truth of this assertion probably is no more strikingly brought out than in wartime, when a retreating force, in order to do any damage to its pur. suers, must first be called to a halt be- fore its'fire becomes accurate. Thus it was in the case of the Russians in a recent drive by the German army, for it was not until the former reached points of advantage, where they could be halted without great danger, that the drive of the Teuton forces came to a stop. 9 The secret of the superior accuracy of the outflelder over the rifleman is instinct. ‘ The instinct to use the arm in throw- ing is known to every boy and man and many girls and women. It evi- dences itself very early in life and the throwing of sticks and stones or other objects among boys of meager age is a custom well known to everybody and recorded many hundreds of times on juvenile court records. This instinct is developed to the limit in the major league ball player, and it is because of this that his throwing, under the con- ditions he works, is more accurate than would be the marksmanship of the av- erage rifleman under the same condi- tions. Among the most accurate throwers in the big leagues today, the trio of Red Sox gardeners—Tris Speaker, Harry Hooper and Duffy Lewis—form the greatest collection. The St. Louls Browns boast Shotten; the St. Louls Cardinals, Wilson; the Washington Senators, Clyde Milan; the New York Giants, George Burns, and the Brook- lyn Dodgers, Zack Wheat, who, with the three Bostonians, class as the ex- clusive set of fine whipped outflelders. Of Rille Shooter|A TTEMPTS of Federal league agents to sign Joe Jackson just prior to his sale to the White Sox threatened to precipitate court proceedings against the Chicago third league team and also Postpone indefinitely an agreement be- tween organized baseball and the Gil- raore organization, leading to peace in the national pastime. This was learned recently from a re- llable source. Ban Johnson the other day was in Cleveland to conyince President Somers of the Indians that he has a clear case against the Feds and if the American league chief has his way Weeghman's team will be compelled to defend itself in court for tampering with a player under an iron- clad contract. Calls It a Clear Case. “There never was a clearer case on record of agents deliberately tamper- ing with a man under an ironclad con- tract than that of Joe Jackson, whom the Feds tried to sign despite his writ- ten word to play with Cleveland for three years,” asserted one who claim- ed to know the facts. Why Jackson Was Soid. “Yes, that s why Jackson was placed on the market by Cleveland and why the White Sox bought him. Presi- dent Somers was incensed over the tactics of the Feds, and the fact that Jackson was in conference with them made it imperative that he be sold to some other team, as Somers was through with him. Joe Tinker After Outfielder. “Joe Tinker was trying to get Jack- son to sign with the Feds. Secretary Blackwood got wind of it and went to Jackson’s home. He found Tinker there. He ' called Jackson out and asked what he was doing. He told him he couldn't play with any Federal league team as he was under a con- tract to play with Cleveland and that contract couldn’t be broken.” Wanted to Leave Cleveland. As the story goes, Jackson re ~~ted the Fed offer and agreed to p!u. for some other team, preferring the White Sox. The Cleveland batting phenom- enon had been panned by a number of Cleveland baseball writers and wanted to get away from there, it is said. President Comiskey has benefited immensely by the foraging tactics of Joe Tinker, the Federal league's great- est scout. When Tinker went after ‘Walter Johnson and influenced him to leap to the Whales it caused a panic in American league circles. The sale of Eddie Collins to the White Sox at a record price followed. Now comes the same irrepressible Tinker and goes after Joe Jackson. His persuasive powers have worked their same magic spell over the south- ern swatsmith. Jackson was spell- "All Federal League Managers Are Real Ball Players Bill McKechnie was playing third base for the Newark Peps when Man- ager BIill Phillips was released and McKechnie has filled his place with a degree of success that indicates he will be retained. Harry Lord plays third base for the Buffalo club fully as capably as he used to do when he was with the White Sox. His duties as manager of the Buffaloes do not seem to inter- fere with his playing ability, his stick work being fairly good. He succeeded Larry Schlafly as manager only a month or so ago. Rebel Oakes, the guide of the Pitts- burgh Stogies, is the regular center flelder and considered one of the best gardeners in the league. He is also popular with the players and has his team well to the front in the Federal league contest. o Many Freak Pl BASEBALL play in the major and minor leagues this season has been productive of a number of unusual performances, some of which have es- tablished records or surplanted those existing for some years. They include almost every department of the game, and at the rate they are piling up 1916 is likely to be remembered as the year of odd features. In the Pacific Coast league Jack Ness, first baseman of the Oakland team, batted safely in forty-five consec- utive games for a total of seventy hits, breaking Ty Cobb’s record of one or more hits in forty stralght games made in 1911, . Previous to Cobb's advent the record was held by Hal Chase, who, In 1907, batted safely in twenty-seven con- secutive contests. The same year that Cobb was hitting so consistently Otis Clymer was establishing the minor league record of safe hitting in twenty- five straight games. Season’ owing' 't ‘4 kidney aflment,but at the clpse of the season he will un- /dergo an operation fand expects to be ready to work steadily next year. Otto Knabe plays second base for the Baltimore Terrapins besides guid- | ing the destiny of the tailenders. Otto is one of the fastest leaders:in the league, and his presence invariably in- sures a scrap of some kind. George Stovall of the Kansas City Packers also is a playing boss. He takes charge of the initial 'sack and has been . in 'about 100 games this .year. 5 JIVERY ‘team in’ the” Fedéral féague has a :playing manager except bhn_ Ganzel of the Brooklyn Feds, al- hough Fielder Jones of the St. Louis b,"'has stepped into actioh only ice this season. However, he says is ready to take-the place of any of f¥s outfielders in the event that injury should overtake one. Jones was one of the greatest outfielders the game r produced when he led the White x to a world’s championship over e Cubs in 1906. ° oe Tinker, the leader of the Chicago ales, has not been very active this NORMAN TABER, RUNNER, TO RETIRE TO become an expert poloist a man must be able to ride like a cen- taur, have a quick eye and hit the sphere with precision while at full gallop. To do this requires daily prac- tice on the polo fleld. Polo is a millionaire’s game. Only men of means can stand the expenses connected with the game, purchasing ponies, their keep and men to care for the mounts. It is stated on good au- thority that W. A. Hazard of New York at one time had sixty mounts that were worth easily $50,000. This season he owns about forty of the highest priced thoroughbreds suitable for polo playing. A young polo player at Bryn Mawr, whose finances are somewhat limited, states that to start in the sport re- quires at least four mounts, valued at $500 each, about $200 for equipments, saddles, bridles, etc.; $30 per month for keep and $30 per month for salary of groom and boy, making a total of about $3.000 per year. Polo, said to be of oriental origin of high antiquity, tracing back to 600 B. C., was introduced into the United States in 1836 and has made rapid strides since that time, now having no than fifty organizations in this country, including Canada, under su- pervision of the National Polo asso- ciation, of which H. L. Herbert is chairman; W. A. Hazard, secretary and ltreasurer, and the following on the ex- B Photo by Amierican Press Assoclation. NORMAN TABER. less MFORMAN TABER. the great Brown urifversity runner. has announced that he | will retire-at the end of the present season. Taber is the holder of the id's record for the mile. He traveled the distance in 4 minutes 12 2-5 NEW ADDITION TO THE A. A. U. THE far western championship con- ference is the latest addition to the Amateur Athletic union. It will em- brace ten states—California, Wash- ington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Wy- oming, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico and Arizona, as Wwell ag the territory of Hawali and the Panama canal zone. The new organization will foster as track and fleld contests, NEWARK PLANNING FOR A. A. U. i CHAMPIONSHIP, NEWARK. N. J. will hold the 1916 Amateur Athletic union track and field championships at Weoquahic park. Sparrow Robertson will build the track, which it is expected will cost $5,000. There will be a 220 yard straightaway and a 440 yard course with one turn. After the events the field will be turned over to the Newark city authorities. ays This Season Other extraordinary features include twenty bases on balls by Pitcher Harry Harper in a game between Minneapo- lis ‘and St. Paul of the American asso- ciation; the winning of two games in one day by Pitcher Mellinger of Cedar Rapids team of the Central associa- tion, who allowed fifteen hits and two runs in twenty-four innings against Marshalltown; a twenty-two inning scoreless tie game between Burlington and Keokuk in the same association; George Cutshaw’s two safe hits on one pitched ball, which Umpire Klem de- clared legal in the Brooklyn-Chicago game of July 10, and Left Fielder Rube Oldring’s failure to take the fleld with the rest of his teammates until several balls and strikes had been call- ed upon the batter, due to an interest- ing conversation with Joe Sugden in a recent Athletic-Browns game at St. Louis. These are only a few of the queer plays of the year. Polo Is a Rich Man’s Game ecutive committee: August Belmont, Joshua Crane, John C. Groome, W. A. Hazard, Alexander T. Primm, Jr.; Dudley P. Rogers, W. Plunkett Stewart and H. P. Whitney. A GOOD ONE GOT AWAY. WONDERFUL are the ways of the major leagues. The Detroit club is popularly supposed to have spent $15,000 to land Bill James. Last win- ter they might have had Eddie Plank for $2,600. Thus far O Ed has won fourteen games and lost eight with a light hitting club addicted to slumps. It is reasonable to suppose with the Detroit artillery behind him Plank would have won twenty games by this time, and that would cinch the gon- falon for the Tigers. He might have done the any other American league they gave Eddie the twice the go-by. same for club, yet over and CYCLIST KRAMER MAY RETIRE. Ij‘RANK L. KRAMER of East Orange, N. J. after holding the profession- al cycling title for fourteen years, may retire from active competition at the end of the present season on the east- ern tracks. The passing of Kramer takes from cycling the best known rider since Major Taylor. Kramer has about $200,000 invested, all earned by his cycling, swimming, boxing and football, as well | |G A BASEBALL fan has asked, to de- cide an argument, for the name of the pitcher who in all baseball history had the greatest slow ball. That question has been put to the wise men of baseball many times, and they have never agreed. Old Hoss Radbourne, Clark Griffith, Hank O’Day, Virgil Garvin, Christy Mathewson, Otis Crandall, Russ Ford, Fred Falkenberg and Eddie Summers have been named. Summers, with Detroit in 1907 and part of 1908, had a wonderful slow ball. It was his “knuckler.” After a time gripping the ball tore his finger nails HOW THE WHITE SO Photo by American Press Assoclation. JOE bound by the eloquence of the Whales' manager and talked contract with the Fed agent. Then Somers decided to sell Jackson and asked for bids. Of course Comis- key was right on hand to go a little higher than any one else. He signed to the roots, and he lost the grip that made him a winner. There are four good present day slow ball hurlers—Russ Ford, with his “soap bubble” ball; Falkenberg, with his “reverse emery;” Mathewson, with his “fadeaway,” and Crandall, with his “snake curve.” Crandall went to the majors at an age when most pitchers are nearly all in, and his arm was none too strong. He was a wonder for a few innings, and McGraw used him to finish games for faltering fast ball pitchers. Batters say Crandall’s slow ball floats FOSTER, BOSTON’S o W RN RELDE, g o Photo by American Press Assoclation. GEORGE EORGE FOSTER has certainly deliv: this season. The quiet youngster, a anxious to be given a chance to show his do with pushing the Red Sox pennantward this season. RELIABLE HEAVER FOSTER. ered the goods for Manager Carrigan long with Joe Wood, has had a lot to George is more than skill in tho big event of baseball and' Gibbons together expects to find JACKSON. Jackson, one of the baseball, for a price sald cess of $30,000 in cash and President Johnson t that Cleveland probably kept Jackson had he not conference with Tinker. Who Had the Greatest Slow Ba up big as a balloon, but won't go anywhere, The watchful batters can tell is coming, for Crandall his peculiar grip of the paring for delivery. Ford mixes his slow ball and the “spitter.” 3 Falkenberg says he copled hi one from Virgil Garvin " were with Pittsburgh. Falky ball far back in the palm of his | holding it between the butt thumb and the palm and pill without friction, ‘so it volves as it sails to the plate. Matty’s fadeaway breaks in of the bats of right hand batt even if they hit it they cannot # far. Batters always watched for Griffith’s slow one, but they seemed ready for it. Griff had canny knack of pitching just batter did not want. PITCHERS MUST STRIKE 'EM —_— I’l"l all right to talk about entific pitching and this of “having eight men out there ‘em when they hit 'em,” but ti remains—and never showed ticeably than this summer—t] strike out hurler, the boy who ! ‘em miss the big ene when thers folks on bases, is the cherub ! saves his team, Take, for instance, the Phil Nationals. With the short & that park flles continually sall home runs that would be eaten various other stadiums. The playing seventy-seven games & 4§ there while the other teams eleven games apiece, have, of big advantage, but just as big vantage is this: ¢ Besides having the batters 0 hit over those short rs Moran also has the pitchers whe keep the other fellows from the example. In other wo has pitchers who can work the strike racket oftener and r anybody else. The same statements hold the Cubs, at whose park fly always apt to nestle in nearby tory for home runs. Bres: . ers work for strikeouts all fi and get them. The success of thé { and Quakers is, of course, due* degree to all around hu-mn}’ when you think it oven, isn't due to their strike out pitchers? Wy LACROSSE LOOKS ROUGH, ISN'T. I'r is a strange thing that whiles crosse is essentially a fighting and men slash one another tully on the lacrosse field, no Can lacrosse player has ever been kil as far as is known, none belo other nationalities, while d hockey, football, cricket and are reported frequently, PROMOTER MARSHALL FORTUN: " who 1s ri ing $3L,600 to bring McFarl at Brigh Beach in & tén round boxing cont it a paring wven He has arranged to seat 50,000 LIAM sons for $1, $2, §8, $4 and §6